Please Ban Guns at Sea in South Africa re: Seals

mwillemse(at)deat.gov.za, berlin.consular(at)foreign.gov.za, ambassador(at)saembassy.org, vanheerdenm(at)foreign.gov.za, bloemb(at)saps.org.za, peternk(at)saps.org.za, contact(at)carteblanche.co.za, Helenb(at)incape.co.za, wealet(at)ctn.independent.co.za, ctletters(at)ctn.independent.co.za, fionm(at)mg.co.za; truth @sabc.co.za, vanderwaltdf(at)sabc.co.za, jyeld(at)ctn.independent.co.za

Minister Martinus Van Schalkwyk of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of South Africa
Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula

Dear Madams and Sirs Politicians and Media Journalists in South Africa,

In the Republic of South Africa, the Cape Fur Seals are consider “res nullius”, meaning they have no owner, and therefore, they have no animal rights protection, as they are not considered Sentient Beings.

Because of antiquated laws, one-sided laws, fishermen are allowed to carry weapons and explosives on their fishing trips for fear of piracy, “A euphemistic phrase to cover up the daily slaughter of innocent Seals”. The Cape Fur Seal has been a protected species since 1973 under the Sea-bird and Seal Protection Ace (Act 46 of 1973) but, ironically, this act was never written to protect them, instead its purpose was to control who killed them commercially.

I completely concur with the media statement of your former Deputy Director of Marine and Coastal Management, Mr Kleinschmidt in 2004, when he stated "Some fishers shoot seals, injurying or killing them. We are equally opposed to such conduct. They do this believing that seals consume catches they feel are theirs. Their behaviour is uninformed and demands unequivocal condemnation. We prosecute if wild animals on land are shot at or trapped. The same holds true for seals. If anyone shoots at seals, we will prosecute. We do not condone conduct of this kind and ask people to come forward with evidence of this".

The South African Seals that have been in existence for five million years are slowly disappearing, from their offshore islands, and if the slaughter is not curbed soon, there will be no Fur Seals period.

I ask that Government enforce protection laws for these seals, ban the use of weapons used by the fishermen, enforce fishing regulations and finally, support to the work of Seal Alert South Africa - OIPA Member League (OIPA is an NGO Non Governmental Organization associated to the UN Department of Public Information) who is dedicated to saving the remaining of the South African Seal population.

Sincerely,